ROYAL ASCOT REPORT:DUKE OF Marmalade yesterday secured the Aidan O'Brien-John Murtagh team a third Group One prize in two days when running out a hugely impressive winner of the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The four-year-old emerged four lengths too good for Phoenix Tower to complete his own Group One hat-trick this season and earn comparisons with some of the best horses seen in recent times.
"He's up there with the best I've ever ridden," revealed Murtagh afterwards while O'Brien added: "He's an unbelievable horse. Every run he's getting better. He's the real deal."
Future plans are unclear for Duke Of Marmalade, who was following up victories on Tuesday for Henrythenavigator and Haradasun in what is quickly turning into a vintage Royal Ascot for Ballydoyle.
"After he got a bad fracture at Goodwood as a two-year-old he got pins in his legs and we were never able to train him properly last year. He was semi-lame all the time. But he has gone very athletic now," explained O'Brien.
There was certainly a spring in his step yesterday as Duke Of Marmalade shot clear of Pressing before having more than enough in reserve to contain both Phoenix Reach and Pipedreamer.
Phoenix Reach's trainer Henry Cecil said afterwards: "We might have got a length or two closer but for interference but I think I underestimated Duke Of Marmalade. I didn't realise quite how good he was."
The Ballydoyle star, who was providing O'Brien with a first Prince Of Wales win, was immediately cut to 6 to 1 to emulate his former stable companion Dylan Thomas in next month's King George back at Ascot.
O'Brien's Heart Shaped was a disappointment in the Queen Mary Stakes and it was left to the Andrew Oliver trained Connie Mac to fly the Irish flag in third behind the 25 to 1 winner Langs Lash.
The red-hot favourite and apparent handicap "good thing" for the Royal Hunt Cup, Bankable, failed to overcome a high draw and struggled home only fifth behind the Richard Hughes-ridden Mr Aviator. Aqlam was the most inexperienced runner in the Jersey Stakes but overcame that to win well over Il Warrd.
